The document provides information on gynecological case taking and diagnosis. It discusses that the ideal gynecological diagnosis includes an etiological, anatomical, and functional component. It then outlines the various components of history taking in gynecology including personal history, complaints, menstrual history, obstetric history, past history, family history, and present history. The document also discusses the components of clinical physical examination including general, abdominal, and local gynecological exams. It provides details on specific exams and clinical tests.

1. GYNECOLOGICAL CASE TAKING
Osama M. Warda, MD
Osama M Warda MD
Prof. of OB/GYN
Faculty of Medicine
Mansoura University- EGYPT
3

2. The gynecological diagnosis
Osama M. Warda, MD
•The main objective of the gynecological case taking is
to reach the ideal gynecological diagnosis.
•The ideal gynecological diagnosis includes the
following:
1- Etiological diagnosis; including the offending
cause.
2-Anatomical diagnosis; including the anatomic
alteration
3-Functional diagnosis; including disordered
function.

3. Osama M. Warda, MD
These 3 items are most evident practically in
the diagnosis of a case of genital prolapse.
Example :
Postmenopausal [= etiological diagnosis]
urethro-cystocele, rectocele, 2nd degree
uterine descent [=anatomical diagnosis],
supravaginal elongation of the cervix,
cervical trophic ulcer, positive stress
incontinence [=functional diagnosis].
The gynecological diagnosis

4. H I S T O R Y T A K I N G
Items of history taking include the following:
1-Personal history. 2-Complaint.
3-Menstrual history. 4-Obstetric history.
5-Past history. 6-Family history.
7- Sexual history; [only in cases of infertility].
8-Present history.
Osama M. Warda, MD

5. Personal History
Osama M. Warda, MD
AGE; Knowing the age of a gynecologic case is of great
help in diagnosis because certain gynecological
diseases are common in some age groups than
othersAgeperiod Common gynecological disorder
Infancy & childhood
[birth-to-9 years)
Birth crisis, witch's milk, ambiguous genitalia, sarcoma potyroides, some
malignant germ cell ovarian tumors, precocious puberty, vulvo-vaginitis
of children, iatrogenic
Adolescence &puberty
[9y-16y]
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding(DUB), primary amenorrhea
Childbearing period
[16y-40y]
Pregnancy complications, infertility, genital infection, benign tumors (e.g.
fibroid)
Perimenopause
[45-55y]
DUB, tumors (benign &malignant)
Post-menopause Malignancy, estrogen-deficiency sequelae

6. Ø Occupation: à Cancer cervix - genital prolapse – endometriosis
Ø Marital status & number of living offsprings ;
. Early age at the 1st coitus (<15 years)-à Ca CX
. The presence of sufficient number of children may be a
determining factor in selection of the surgical procedure in
certain diseases; (OV. CA), PROLAPSE OP
Ø Special habits: smoking may be a risk factor for cervical
neoplasia, however it is said that it has protective effect against
endometrial carcinoma.
Ø Personal history of the husband: work, smoking, other wife,
socioeconomic status, related disease.
Osama M. Warda, MD
Personal History

7. COMPLAINT:
²The gynecologic case may complain of one or
more of the following 5 complaints: pain,
bleeding, discharge, swelling, or infertility.
² Complaints should be in the patient’s own
words without using scientific terms.
² Complaints (if more than one) should be
arranged chronologically ( i.e. according to the
onset of their occurrence). Or they may be
arranged according their importance from the
patient’s point of view.
Osama M. Warda, MD

8. MENSTRUAL HISTORY:
The items of menstrual history include the following items in
sequence:
1- Menarche (onset): It is the 1st day of the 1st menses in the
woman’s life. Menarche is the climax of the pubertal events
including breast development ( thelarche), axillary hair
development (adrenarche), pubic hair development (
pubarche), and growth spurt.
2- Cycle rhythm: whether regular or irregular.
3- Cycle length: It is the duration from the 1st day of the cycle to
the 1st day of the next cycle. The normal cycle length simply
ranges from 21 to 35 days.
4- Duration of menstrual flow: It is the period of time during which
menstrual blood flows through the vagina. The normal
duration is 2-8 days
Osama M. Warda, MD

9. 5-Character of flow; the characters of menstrual flow regarding
amount, color & odor should be mentioned.
6-Dysmenorrhea: It is a pain related to menses severe enough to
prevent the woman from doing her usual daily activities.
7-The intermensrual period (IMP): It is the period from the last day
of flow to the 1st day of the next flow. The presence or absence
of pain, bleeding, or discharge should be asked for.
8-The current use of contraception: The type of the contraceptive
method as well as the duration of its use should be asked for.
9-The 1st day of the last normal menstrual period: PRE-MID, OR
POST MENSTRUAL?
Osama M. Warda, MD
MENSTRUAL HISTORY:

10. Term Definition
Menorrhagia Excessive and/or prolonged cyclic bleeding
Metrorrhagia Irregular (acyclic) uterine bleeding not related to menses
Oligomenorrhea The cycle length is more than 35 days (i.e. infrequent menses)
Polymenorrhea The frequent menstruation i.e. the cycle length is less than 21 days.
Hypomenorrhea Is the scanty menstrual flow.
Hypermenorrhea Is a cycle with excessive menstrual flow with normal duration.
Osama M. Warda, MD
MENSTRUAL HISTORY:

11. Osama M. Warda, MD

12. OBSTETRIC HISTORY:
• Gravidity & parity.
• Full term normal pregnancies (FTNP).
• Full term normal deliveries (FTNDs).
• Preterm labors.
• Stillbirth (SB).
• Difficult labors.
• Cesarean sections (CS).
• Last delivery date.
• Abortions.
• Puerperia.
Osama M. Warda, MD

13. PAST HISTORY:
– Past history of similar condition.
– Past history of medical disease: such as diabetes mellitus,
hypertension, bilharziasis, tuberculosis, irradiation,drug sensitivity.
– Past history of surgical operations: the nature& date of operation
should be determined.
– Past history of gynecologic operation: the nature& date of operation
should be determined.
– Past history of gynecologic therapy: as gestagen therapy in cases of
abnormal uterine bleeding; the drugs, duration of therapy, and
response to treatment should be all mentioned.
– Past history of contraception: if not currently used.
Osama M. Warda, MD

14. FAMILY HISTORY:
• Family history of heriditary disease e.g. diabetes, hypertension,
chromosomal anomalies,…….etc
• Family history of familial non-heriditary diseases e.g. rheumatic
heart disease, tuberculosis ( these diseases result in common
bad socioeconomic conditions).
• Family history of a similar condition in the family: this is of special
importance in certaine diseases such as ‘cancer family syndrome’
including ovarian, breast, endometrial cancers plus familial
colonic polyposis. Other conditions requires asking for other
affected members of the family such as ‘androgen insensitivity
syndromes’ which are inherited as x-linked from the mother
resulting in what is called ‘testicular feminization syndrome’
Osama M. Warda, MD

15. SEXUAL HISTORY:
It should be taken in cases of infertility. Its items include the
following.
• Frequency of coitus: it is registered per week.
• Position during coitus: the commonest position is female dorsal position.
• Presence of libido: it is the female sexual desire. It is mentined as positive or
negative. Lack of libido is called ‘ frigidity’.
• Presence of orgasm: it is the climax of sexual pleasure. It is mentioned as
positive or negative.
• Dyspareunia: it is pain during intercourse- superficial or deep dyspareunia.
Apareunia d.t. vaginismus ( violent reflex spasm of the levator ani, perineal
muscles, gluteal muscles, and adductors of the thigh on any attepmt at
sexual intercourse making intromission impossible. It is usually of
psychogenic origin).
• Use of lubricants: to facilitate intromission, should be mentioned.
• Flour semenis: it means escape of semen from the vagina immediately after
ejaculation. In most fertile women some degree of flour semenis occurs.
• Postcoital vaginal douches: the female should be asked if she perform immediate
postcoital vaginal douches or not. Water per se is considered as spermicidal.
Osama M. Warda, MD

16. PRESENT HISTORY:
The present history of a gynecologic case consists of the
following items:
• Analysis of the complaint: regarding its character, the
duration, the onset (acute, gradual, insiduous), the
course (progressive, regressive, or stationary), what
increase, what decrease, association of other
symptoms, previous treatments (since what time, its
duration, its types, results of treatments).
• Related urinary & gastrointestinal symptoms.
Osama M. Warda, MD

17. 2- CLINICAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Examination of a gynecologic case consists basically of the
following items:
1- General examination.
2- Abdominal examination.
3- Local gynecologic examination:
– Vulval inspection.
– Vaginal palpation.
– Bimanual examination
– Speculum examination
– Special clinical tests (in certain cases)
Osama M. Warda, MD

18. General examination.
• Gait
• Constitution; feminine, masculine
• Built ; BMI 19-24 kg/M2 >
• Vital signs (BP-Pulse-temp-RR)
• General examination of the patient from the
head to the heel: head, neck, breasts, chest &
heart, limbs & back
Osama M. Warda, MD

19. General Examination
Osama M. Warda, MD
Tanner-p.h
Tanner-br

20. General Examination
AXILLARY HAIRPUBIC HAIRBREASTTANNER
STAGE
Pre-pubertal, no
hair
Pre-pubertal, no hairPre-pubertal, papilla
elevated only
I
Scanty hairPre-sexual hairBreast budII
Adult hairSexual hair but sparseBreast elevationIII
Sexual over mons onlyAreolar moundIV
Sexual hair over mons,
labia majora,
transverse upper
border
Adult contourV
Osama M. Warda, MD

21. Abdominal Examination
Osama M. Warda, MD

22. Abdominal Examination
Inspectio
n
• contour, movement with respiration, s.c. angle, umbilicus, skin.
• hernial orifices, pubic hair
Palpati
on
• Suprficial palpation; tenderness, rigidity, superficial masses
• Deep palpation; liver, spleen, renal angles, abd. Mass, PA mass
PERCUSSI
ON
• Dullness over a mass
• Shifting dullness for ascites
AUSCULTATI
ON
• Intestinal sounds, venous hum
Osama M. Warda, MD

23. Abdominal examination
Osama M. Warda, MD
RT KIDNEY
SPLEEN FOOT EDEMA
+
+++
Liver

24. LOCAL GYNECOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
Includes;
1. vulvar inspection
2. vaginal palpation (P/V)
3. Bimanual examination
4. speculum examination
5. special clinical (not routine), under certaine
circumstances
Osama M. Warda, MD

25. Local exam; positions
Osama M. Warda, MD
Dorsal
Lithotomy
Frog
Sims’

26. Vulvar inspection:
PERINEUM & EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Osama M. Warda, MD

27. Vaginal & Bimanual EXAM
Osama M. Warda, MD
AVF RVF
P/V
Bimanual Bimanual
Bimanual
Palpating the adnexae

28. SPECULUM EXAM
Osama M. Warda, MD
Cusco’s
Sims’
Inserting speculum

29. SOUNDING
What are indications?
Osama M. Warda, MD
KNOB=4mm
Shaft=3mm
Handle depression up
6cm

30. Uterine sounding; indication
1. Measurement of the length of the cervico-uterine canal.
2. Determination of the direction of the uterus [AVF or RVF].
3. To differentiate uterine inversion from sub-mucous fibroid.
4. To differentiate sub mucous fibroid polyp (originating from the fundus) and cervical fibroid
polyp.
5. Determination of the relationship of the uterus to any pelvic mass.
6. In cases of prolapse it differentiate true prolapse from congenital elongation of the portio
vaginalis of the cervix. Also it diagnoses supra-vaginal elongation of the cervix in vagino-
uterine prolapse.
7. Diagnosis of intrauterine masses e.g. sub-mucous fibroid, uterine septum, bicornuate
uterus [this findings are only suggestive and should be further investigated].
8. Diagnosis of intrauterine foreign body e.g. IUD. “click”
9. Probe test of friability for cancer cervix ( Krobac’s test).
10. Click test for diagnosis of vesico-vaginal or urethra-vaginal fistulas.
Osama M. Warda, MD

31. Per rectum examination (P/R)
Rectal examination is indicated in gynecology in the following
conditions:
1.Pelvic examination in a virgin it substitutes P/V, and bimanual
examination for evaluation of the uterus, adnexa, or pelvic masses.
2. Diagnosis of para-metrial infiltration in cancer cervix.
3. Detection of mass in cul-de-sac.
4. Diagnosis of rectal infiltration in gynecologic malignancy.
5. Differentiation between true & false rectocele.
6. Diagnosis of recto-vaginal fistula.
Osama M. Warda, MD

32. Rectovaginal exam
Recto-vaginal examination is indicated in the following conditions:
1. Evaluation of the recto-vaginal septum e.g.in endometriosis.
2. Diagnosis of enterocele (Malpas’ test).
3. Evaluation of the tone of levator ani muscle in cases of prolapse pre-
operatively.
4. Diagnosis of recto-vaginal fistula.
Osama M. Warda, MD
Rectovaginal septum between
index& middle fingers

33. Clinical tests for urinary stress incontinence
1- Marshall stress test: with about 200 ml of urine in the bladder (=some desire to urinate), the
patient is asked to cough, a positive test is indicated if there is a brief spurt of urine loss
limited to the period of increased intra-abdominal pressure. If the test is negative in supine
position, it should be repeated in standing position
2- Yousef’s test: this test is done to detect inhibited incontinence in cases of genital prolapse
i.e. the patient has prolapse & she is continent. With the use of a volsellum on the anterior
cervical lip, the bladder neck is pushed upwards, and the patient is asked to cough. If the
urine comes down through the urethra, the patient has inhibited incontinence that must
corrected during repair of prolapse and vice versa.
Osama M. Warda, MD

34. Clinical tests for urinary stress incontinence
3- Bonney’s test: this test is done in patients with prolapse & urinary incontinence
to differentiate between incontinence due to descent of bladder neck (prolapse)
and that due to intrinsic sphencteric weakness. Two fingers are put in the vagina
to push the bladder neck upwards, and the patient is asked to cough. If the urine
comes out the urethra, there is weakness of the sphincter. If no urine comes out,
the incontinence is due to prolapse ( inhibited by correction of the bladder neck).
Another possibility is that the incontinence is inhibited due to urethral
compression by the vaginal fingers. [the next 3 tests were designed to avoid this
misleading possibility].
Osama M. Warda, MD

35. Clinical tests for urinary stress incontinence
4- Marshall- Marchetti test:
it is exactly as Bonney’s test but using Allis forceps to elevate the bladder neck instead of
fingers to avoid urethral compression.
5- Hodge-Smith pessary test: it is exactly as Bonney’s test but the bladder base is elevated by
inverted Hodge-Smith pessary.
6- Hodge-Linson test: it is exactly as Bonney’s test, but the bladder base is elevated by the
largest contraceptive diaphragm.
7- Pad test: it is done when all other tests fail to prove stress incontinence. A pre-weighed
vulvar pad is applied, and the patient is allowed to perform her usual activities for one
hour, then the pad is taken off & weighed. Any increase in the weight of the pad (urine
loss) is observed. The one-hour pad test is the most commonly used pad test
(international continence society [ICS], 1979).
8- Q-tip test ( cotton swab test): the direction of the urethra is detected by a metallic
catheter or by a lubricated cotton swab. Normally, the urethra goes up by about 15
degrees with the horizon. In stress incontinence the angle is increased (+/- 50 degrees)
and this angle is further increased with straining.
Osama M. Warda, MD

36. Clinical tests or procedures used in cases of
pelvic mass:
• To differentiate pelvi-abdominal from purely abdominal
swelling: this is done abdominally by trying to get below
the lower border of the mass. If the lower border is
reachable, the mass is purely abdominal & vice versa.
• To differentiate large ovarian cyst from ascites: by doing
shifting dullness; in ascites shifting dullness is positive,
while in ovarian cyst dullness is constantly central with
absent dullness in the flanks when the patient turned on
her side.
Osama M. Warda, MD

37. To differentiate uterine from adnexal masses:
during bimanual exam
Criteria of uterine & adnexal mass during bimanual exam.
Character Uterine
mass
Adnexal mass
1- P osition Usually
centr al
Usually later al
2 - T r ansm ission of m ovem ent
to cer vix
P r esent Absent .
3 - sulcus between the m ass &
uter us
Absent . P r esent .
4 -Consistency M ostly
solid
Cystic or solid
Osama M. Warda, MD

38. Clinical tests to diagnose V.V.F:
(1)Intravesical dye test:
The urinary bladder is filled with diluted solution of methylene blue or indigocarmine .
careful inspection of the anterior vaginal wall & the vaginal vault with Sims’
speculum for the colored urine.
(2) Three tampoon test of Moir:
Three vaginal tampons ( or cotton balls) are placed one after the other. Bladder is
filled with diluted methylene blue solution. The patient is asked to walk for 10-15
minutes. Then the tampons are removed & examined for the colored solution (blue);
if the lowest tampon is the only colored one, there is no fistula but there may be
transurethral urinary incontinence (stress or urge). If the upper tampon is wet &
stained blue, there is a vesico-vaginal fistula. If the upper one is wet but not stained
blue, there is a uretro-vaginal fistula.
(3) Flat tire test:
The patient is put in the knee-chest position, and the vagina is filled with water or
saline. Intravesical instillation of air or CO2 through a urethral catheter. Localization
of the small fistula is done by visualization of gas bubbles in the vagina.
Osama M. Warda, MD

39. Clinical tests to diagnose recto-vaginal fistula:
• Probe test: a small caliber probe is pushed through the vaginal orifice
of the fistula can be felt on rectal examination.
• Methylene blue test: methylene blue instillation from the vaginal
orifice can be seen in the rectum via a proctoscope.
• Carey’s test: a Foley catheter (10ml balloon) is inserted into the anal
canal while the vagina is painted with concenterated solution of soap
& water. The balloon is inflated with 10ml saline to make the anus
tight. As the rectum is ditended with air from a syringe attached to
the Foley catheter, air bubbles in the vagina can locate the site of the
fistula.
Osama M. Warda, MD

40. Thank you
Osama M. Warda, MD